Adding Hezbollah’s Television Station to Terrorism List “Important First Step”

The U.S. State Department’s decision to add Hezbollah’s TV station al-Manar to the Terrorist Exclusion List (TEL) is an important first step toward getting it off the air, but there is much more that needs to be done, said Avi Jorisch senior fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (FDD) and author of Beacon of Hatred, Inside Hizballah’s Al-Manar Television. Jorisch is the executive director of the Coalition Against Terrorist Media, a new FDD project bringing together Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and non-denominational organizations to oppose al-Manar’s broadcast. Jorisch and the coalition have been actively advocating for action against al-Manar, and have identified additional steps that will reduce al-Manar’s ability to reach more than 10 million viewers a day around the world, including the United States, with its message of hate and violence. “There is growing recognition that al-Manar poses an immediate and serious threat to the United States and other democracies,” Jorisch said, “Al-Manar incites violence with crude propaganda and was created to - in its own words - wage ‘psychological warfare’ against its enemies, including the United States.” Al-Manar’s parent, Hezbollah, has killed hundreds of Americans and is recognized by the United States as a terrorist organization. Al-Manar calls for Jihadists to kill American soldiers in Iraq and broadcasts hateful messages meant only to incite violence. To view sample videos from al-Manar, please click here. The USA Patriot Act of 2001 empowers the Secretary of State - in coordination with the Attorney General - “to designate terrorist entities for immigration purposes” on the TEL. They can be included on the TEL for committing or inciting to commit a terrorist activity, preparing or planning a terrorist activity, gathering targeting information for a terrorist activity, or providing material support to further terrorist activity. The TEL designation will brand al-Manar as a terrorist organization and deny the network’s employees and supporters entry into the United States. Jorisch noted that there are other steps that would more severely limit al-Manar’s ability to operate. The Treasury Department should add al-Manar to its Sanctions list. Pressure should be put on satellite companies to remove al-Manar from broadcast, including Intelsat, which broadcasts al-Manar in the United States. In addition, Arabsat, a Saudi owned satellite com